Pasika Sashmal Ranaweera

IoT and 5G are emerging technologies that envisage a mobile service platforms capable of provisioning billions of communication devices which enable ubiquitous computing and ambient intelligence. These novel approaches are guaranteeing gigabit-level bandwidth, ultra-low latency and ultra-high storage capacity for their subscribers. The centralized nature of the conventional IoT architecture (cloud computing based) however, raises concerns over the latency and responsiveness of the services among other factors of reliability, security, and locational unawareness. To overcome these limitations, ETSI has introduced the paradigm of MEC for creating efficient data processing architecture extending the cloud computing capabilities in the RAN. The key idea of the MEC paradigm is to migrate the storage and processing infrastructure to the edge of the mobile network (preferably to a mobile BS or eNodeB) as other edge computing paradigms. The infrastructure is developed utilizing virtualization technologies capable of dynamic resource provisioning as in Virtual Machines (VMs). The integration of MEC with IoT technologies however, raises intricacies due to heterogeneity. Thus, interoperability and compatibility of diverse technologies interfacing with the MEC system results in security concerns worth investigating. Moreover, privacy is a salient predicament that gained recognition as a major requisite with the GDPR initiative for modern IT related services. Therefore, security and privacy are vital factors to be contemplated for realizing the feasibility of MEC paradigm.